Studying Russian literature of the 20th century, one cannot help but dwell on Maxim Gorky, a writer and poet who laid the foundation for an entire genre, the so-called socialist realism. Alexey Maksimovich Peshkov - and that was Gorky’s actual name - became a real herald and ideologist of the revolution. Now some people call the writer Alexey Maksimovich Gorky, combining his real name (given at birth) and his pseudonym.
Growing up as a writer and pre-revolutionary life
The writer's childhood and youth were difficult. He was born in 1868 into a poor family, lost his father early, was brought up in his grandfather's house and was never able to receive a systematic education. Officially, he completed only two classes; subsequently he tried to enter a university in Kazan, but was unable to do so due to bureaucratic obstacles. Therefore, from early youth, despite his keen mind and desire for knowledge, he was forced not to study, but to grab literally any job - as a loader, farm laborer, fisherman.
Since the writer had no reason to love the existing society, it is not surprising that even in his youth he began to closely communicate with revolutionary movements. At the beginning of the twentieth century, this created many problems for him - in particular, police surveillance was established over him.
The writer had already gained a certain literary fame; in 1902 he was even awarded an honorary title from Imperial Academy Sci. But because political views writer, it was immediately annulled - such an order was given by the indignant emperor himself. Pressure from the authorities led to the fact that in 1906 the writer and his wife went on a long trip to America, then to Italy - and returned to their homeland only shortly before the revolution.
New emigration and final return
Although Gorky himself did not like tsarism, the communist regime also did not inspire confidence in him. For this reason, soon after the revolution, the writer left Russia again. Officially it was a trip for medical treatment, but in reality it was deportation from the country. The writer’s full-fledged return took place only in the 1930s - and he liked the Stalinist USSR. From then on, Gorky actively praised Soviet power in his writings and journals, led educational work, defended proletarian ideology. It is a fact that the writer had a certain influence even on Stalin.
The writer died in 1936 from a cold; his death caused mourning throughout the country. His identity is still controversial today. But the brightest works, such as “Mother”, “At the Lower Depths” and others, are the pearls of Russian literature.
Alexey Peshkov did not receive a real education; he only graduated from a vocational school.
In 1884, the young man came to Kazan with the intention of studying at the university, but did not enter.
In Kazan, Peshkov became acquainted with Marxist literature and propaganda work.
In 1902, the Imperial Academy of Sciences in the category of fine literature. However, the election was annulled by the government because the newly elected academician “was under police surveillance.”
In 1901, Maxim Gorky became the head of the publishing house of the Znanie partnership and soon began publishing collections in which Ivan Bunin, Leonid Andreev, Alexander Kuprin, Vikenty Veresaev, Alexander Serafimovich and others were published.
The top of it early creativity The play "At the Bottom" is considered. In 1902 it was staged in the Moscow art theater Konstantin Stanislavsky. Stanislavsky, Vasily Kachalov, Ivan Moskvin, Olga Knipper-Chekhova performed in the performances. In 1903, at the Berlin Kleines Theater, the performance "At the Bottom" with Richard Wallentin in the role of Satin took place. Gorky also created the plays "The Bourgeois" (1901), "Summer Residents" (1904), "Children of the Sun", "Barbarians" (both 1905), "Enemies" (1906).
In 1905, he joined the ranks of the RSDLP (Russian Social Democratic Party, Bolshevik wing) and met Vladimir Lenin. Gorky provided financial support to the revolution of 1905-1907.
The writer took an active part in the revolutionary events of 1905, was imprisoned in the Peter and Paul Fortress, and was released under pressure from the world community.
At the beginning of 1906, Maxim Gorky arrived in America, fleeing persecution Russian authorities, where he stayed until the fall. The pamphlets “My Interviews” and the essays “In America” were written here.
Upon returning to Russia in 1906, Gorky wrote the novel "Mother". In the same year, Gorky left Italy for the island of Capri, where he stayed until 1913.
Returning to St. Petersburg, he collaborated with the Bolshevik newspapers Zvezda and Pravda. During this period, the autobiographical stories “Childhood” (1913-1914) and “In People” (1916) were published.
After October Revolution In 1917, Gorky was actively engaged in social activities, participated in the creation of the publishing house "World Literature". In 1921 he went abroad again. The writer lived in Helsingfors (Helsinki), Berlin and Prague, and since 1924 - in Sorrento (Italy). In exile, Gorky more than once spoke out against the policies pursued by the Soviet authorities.
The writer was officially married to Ekaterina Peshkova, née Volzhina (1876-1965). The couple had two children - son Maxim (1897-1934) and daughter Katya, who died in childhood.
Later, Gorky tied himself into a civil marriage with actress Maria Andreeva (1868-1953), and then Maria Brudberg (1892-1974).
The writer's granddaughter Daria Peshkova is an actress at the Vakhtangov Theater.
The material was prepared based on information from RIA Novosti and open sources
Alexey Peshkov, known in the literary circle as Maxim Gorky, was born in Nizhny Novgorod. Alexei's father died in 1871, when the future writer was only 3 years old, his mother lived only a little longer, leaving her son an orphan at the age of 11. The boy was sent for further care to the family of his maternal grandfather Vasily Kashirin.
It was not the cloudless life in his grandfather’s house that forced Alexei to switch to his own bread from childhood. To earn food, Peshkov worked as a delivery boy, washed dishes, and baked bread. Later, the future writer will talk about this in one of the parts autobiographical trilogy called "Childhood".
In 1884, young Peshkov sought to pass the exams at Kazan University, but was unsuccessful. Difficulties in life unexpected death dear grandmother, who was a good friend of Alexei, lead him to despair and attempt suicide. The bullet did not hit the young man’s heart, but this incident doomed him to lifelong respiratory weakness.
Thirsty for change government structure, young Alexey gets involved with Marxists. In 1888 he was arrested for anti-state propaganda. After his release, the future writer travels, calling this period of his life his “universities.”
The first steps of creativity
Since 1892, having returned to his native place, Alexey Peshkov became a journalist. The young author's first articles are published under the pseudonym Yehudiel Chlamys (from Greek cloak and dagger), but soon the writer comes up with another name for himself - Maxim Gorky. Using the word “bitter,” the writer strives to show the “bitter” life of the people and the desire to describe the “bitter” truth.
The first work of the master of words was the story “Makar Chudra”, published in 1892. Following him, the world saw other stories “Old Woman Izergil”, “Chelkash”, “Song of the Falcon”, “ Former people"and others (1895-1897).
Literary rise and popularity
In 1898, the collection “Essays and Stories” was published, which brought Maxim Gorky fame among the masses. The main characters of the stories were the lower classes of society, enduring unprecedented hardships of life. The author depicted the suffering of the “tramps” in the most exaggerated form, in order to create a feigned pathos of “humanity”. In his works, Gorky nurtured the idea of the unity of the working class, protecting the social, political and cultural heritage of Russia.
The next revolutionary impulse, openly hostile to tsarism, was the “Song of the Petrel.” As punishment for calling for a fight against the autocracy, Maxim Gorky was expelled from Nizhny Novgorod and recalled from the Imperial Academy. Remaining in close ties with Lenin and other revolutionaries, Gorky wrote the play “At the Lower Depths” and a number of other plays that received recognition in Russia, Europe and the United States. At this time (1904-1921), the writer connected his life with the actress and admirer of Bolshevism Maria Andreeva, breaking ties with his first wife Ekaterina Peshkova.
Abroad
In 1905, after the December armed rebellion, fearing arrest, Maxim Gorky went abroad. Gathering support for the Bolshevik Party, the writer visits Finland, Great Britain, the USA, meets famous writers Mark Twain, Theodore Roosevelt and others. But the trip to America is not cloudless for the writer, because soon he begins to be accused of supporting local revolutionaries, as well as violating moral rights.
Not daring to go to Russia, from 1906 to 1913 the revolutionary lived on the island of Capri, where he created a new philosophical system, which is vividly depicted in the novel “Confession” (1908).
Return to the Fatherland
An amnesty for the 300th anniversary of the Romanov dynasty allowed the writer to return to Russia in 1913. Continuing his active creative and civic activities, Gorky published key parts of the autobiographical trilogy: 1914 - “Childhood”, 1915-1916 - “In People”.
During the First World War and the October Revolution, Gorky's St. Petersburg apartment became the site of regular Bolshevik meetings. But the situation changed dramatically a few weeks after the revolution, when the writer explicitly accused the Bolsheviks, in particular Lenin and Trotsky, of lust for power and false intentions of creating democracy. Newspaper " New Life", which Gorky published, became the target of censorship persecution.
Along with the prosperity of communism, criticism of Gorky decreased and soon the writer personally met with Lenin, admitting his mistakes.
Staying in Germany and Italy from 1921 to 1932, Maxim Gorky wrote the final part of the trilogy called “My Universities” (1923), and was also treated for tuberculosis.
The last years of the writer's life
In 1934, Gorky was appointed head of the Union Soviet writers. As a token of gratitude from the government, he receives a luxurious mansion in Moscow.
In the last years of his work, the writer was closely associated with Stalin, strongly supporting the dictator’s policies in his literary works. In this regard, Maxim Gorky is called the founder of a new movement in literature - socialist realism, which has more to do with communist propaganda than artistic talent. The writer died on June 18, 1936.
Alexey Maksimovich Peshkov born in 1868 in Nizhny Novgorod. He lost his parents early, lived in his grandfather’s family, experienced many troubles and hardships with early childhood. This explains his pseudonym - Bitter, which he took in 1892, signing with it the story “Makar Chudra”, published in the newspaper. This is not so much a pseudonym-phrenonym - a pseudonym indicating main feature the author's character or main feature his creativity. Knowing for certain about the difficult life, the writer described the bitter fate of the disadvantaged. Gorky described the impressions of the beginning of his life in the trilogy “Childhood”, “In People”, “My Universities”.
Creative activity
Since 1892, the aspiring writer published feuilletons and reviews in newspapers. In 1898, his two-volume book “Essays and Stories” was published, which made Maxim Gorky a famous revolutionary author and attracted the attention of the authorities to him. This period in the writer’s life is characterized by a search for the heroic in life. “Old Woman Izergil”, “Song of the Falcon”, “Song of the Petrel” were enthusiastically received by progressive youth.
At the beginning of the twentieth century, Gorky finally subordinated his creativity to the service of the revolution. For his participation in the revolutionary movement in 1905, the writer was imprisoned in the Peter and Paul Fortress, but under the influence of the world community the authorities had to release him. To avoid persecution, the party sent Gorky to America in 1906. Impressions about the country and that time are described in the essays “The City of the Yellow Devil”, “Belle France”, “My Interviews”. Gorky did not stay abroad for long for the first time.
Emigration and return to the USSR
Gorky met the October Revolution without much enthusiasm, but continued his creative activity and wrote many patriotic works. In 1921, he was forced to emigrate abroad, according to one version - at the insistence of V.I. Lenin, for treatment of tuberculosis, according to another - due to ideological differences with the established government. And only in 1928 he came to Russia at the personal invitation of Stalin. The writer finally returned to his homeland in 1932, and for a long time remained the “head of Soviet literature”, creates new magazines and series of books, initiates the creation of the “Union of Soviet Writers”. Despite his extensive social work, he continues his creative activities.
Personal life
The writer’s personal life was just as eventful as his creative one, but not as happy. IN different times he had several long-term affairs, but he was married to one woman - E.P. Peshkova (Volzhina). They had two children, but the daughter died in infancy, leaving only one son, Maxim. In 1934, Maxim died tragically.
Alexey Maksimovich Gorky died in 1936, cremated and buried in Moscow, on Red Square. There are still conflicting rumors surrounding his death, as well as the death of his son.
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Maxim Gorky (born March 28, 1868) is an honored Russian writer, prose writer and playwright. For those who don’t know, Maxim Gorky’s real name is Alexey Maksimovich Peshkov. Author of many works with revolutionary themes.
His life deserves special attention, as he is a worthy example for young people. Despite many difficulties and hardships, he was able to glorify his name and gain recognition not only in Russia, but also abroad.
Chronological table of the biography of Maxim Gorky
Briefly about childhood
This outstanding man was born in Nizhny Novgorod, in an ordinary working-class family. His father was a cabinetmaker. At a young age, he was left an orphan and raised by his grandfather, who had a harsh and tyrannical disposition. Since childhood, he felt the need and was forced to quit his studies and earn his own living. But this did not stop him from developing and learning independently.
The only outlet for him was his grandmother’s soulful poems. It was she who contributed to the literary talent of her grandson. In his notes, the writer very rarely mentions his grandmother, but these words are filled with warmth and tenderness.
At the age of 11, he decided to leave his grandfather’s house and go free. Wherever he worked, trying to somehow feed himself. He worked as an errand boy in a shoe store, as a helper for a draftsman, and as a cook on a steamship. When he turned 15, he took the risk of entering Kazan University. This attempt was unsuccessful, because young man there wasn't financial support.
Kazan did not greet him very friendly. There he experienced life in its lowest manifestations. He ate whatever he could, lived in slums, and interacted with the lower strata of society. Because of this, he decided to commit suicide.
His next destination was Tsaritsyn. He worked there for some time on railway. Then he contracted as a scribe for the attorney at law M. A. Lapin. This man did not play last role in his destiny.
Maxim’s restless disposition did not allow him to sit in one place and he decided to go on a trip to the south of Russia. Having tried many different professions, he added to his knowledge base. In his wanderings on foot, he never ceased to propagate revolutionary ideas. This is what led to his arrest in 1888.
The beginning of literary creativity
The first story of M. Gorky"Makar Chudra" was published in 1892. Returning to his hometown, he met the writer V.G. Korolenko, who made a significant contribution to the fate of the writer.
Fame came to him in 1898, after the publication of the work “Essays and Stories.” His creations began to enjoy popularity not only in Russia, but also abroad. The list of Gorky's novels includes the following:
- "Mother",
- "The Artamonov Case"
- "Foma Gordeev"
- "Three" and others.
The most famous were the story “The Old Woman Izergil”, the plays “At the Lower Depths”, “Bourgeois”, “Enemies” and others.
Since 1901 M. Gorky was constantly at gunpoint police because he was conducting propaganda revolutionary movement. In 1906 he was forced to leave his homeland and went to Europe and the USA. The main thing is that even there he did not stop defending the revolution, expressing this in his work. He lived on the island of Capri for about seven years, where he did not stop writing. The following works appeared there:
- "Confession";
- “The life of an unnecessary person”;
- "Tales of Italy."
At the same time, he underwent treatment. During the same period of time, the novel “Mother” appeared.
After the October riot in 1917, Maxim Gorky became the first chairman of the Union of Writers of the USSR. Under his protection were everyone who was persecuted by the new government.
Recent years
In 1921, the writer health has deteriorated sharply, tuberculosis worsened. He had to go abroad for treatment. There is information that Lenin strongly insisted on this departure. Perhaps this was due to the growing ideological contradictions in the writer’s opposition. At first he lived in Germany, from there he moved to the Czech Republic and Italy.
In 1928, Stalin himself invited M. Gorky to celebrate his 60th birthday. A grand reception was held in honor of this event. It was transported to many regions Soviet Union, demonstrating achievements Soviet people. In 1932, the writer returned to Russia for good.
Despite a serious and debilitating illness, Alexey Maksimovich tirelessly continues to work in newspapers and magazines. At the same time, he was intensely busy with the novel “The Life of Klim Samgin,” which he never completed.
There was also no stability in the personal life of Maxim Gorky. He was married several times. The first marriage took place with Ekaterina Pavlovna Volzhina. They had a daughter who died in infancy. The second child was a son, Maxim Peshkov. Was a free artist. He died shortly before the death of his father. This was a surprise to everyone, which gave rise to many rumors about the possibility violent death.
For the second time, Gorky married the actress and associate of the revolutionary movement, Maria Andreeva. The last woman in his life was Maria Ignatievna Burdberg. This person had a dubious reputation among the people because of his turbulent life.
Interesting fact it is believed that after the writer's death, they decided to study his brain in more detail. Scientists from the Moscow Brain Institute took up this task.
Maxim Gorky short biography